There are several high-profile staffing vacancies within Westlock County, but it doesn’t seem to be having a net negative impact on the organization.
Interim CAO Rick McDonald said while it’s a bit of a challenge to cover everything off, he’s happy with the way everyone has stepped up.
“Things are going well and I appreciate what everyone’s doing,” he said. “I really want to pat this group on the back because we are short, and they’re pulling their weight. I’m impressed with how much they’re committed to the county.”
There are currently three positions in top-level management that are being filled on an interim basis: CAO, director of facilities and director of transportation. The two director positions are filled on an interim basis by Roy Lidgren, the interim director of operations.
“He’s a professional engineer by training and has worked for a number of counties heading up their operations, so we’re very fortunate to have him here at this time,” McDonald said.
He noted there may be some changes at the lower levels for staff as the county takes a look at how many full-time equivalent positions are needed, so he wouldn’t say how many vacancies need to be filled.
“It depends who’s counting and what you’re counting,” McDonald said. “We are looking at the whole organization, looking at our FTEs and determining whether we can cover off, or if we need to fill those vacancies.”
In the short term, however, all the work of the county continues to be done and services are still being provided to residents. He did say, however, that college and university students who are looking for a job this summer might inquire if there’s a potential to gain some experience at the county.
“We have the opportunity to bring in people on a short-term contract if we need to fill in anywhere,” he said.
The process to hire a new permanent CAO has also begun, with council passing a motion May 13 to retain the services of professional recruiting firm Pekarski Stein to fill the position.
Reeve Bud Massey said while he can’t say for certain why so many staff members have left since the last election, he believes it may have to do with the philosophy of the new council elected in October 2013 — a philosophy rooted in the idea of spending less money and getting more per taxpayer dollar.
“Not everyone who works for the county is endorsing those concepts,” he said.
He acknowledged that when some people hear talk of finding efficiencies and increasing productivity, they think about cutbacks and might worry.
“We’re not saying we want a reduction in staff, although that may be one of the results,” Massey said. “What we’re saying is that we want more productivity, more efficiency, that we believe our taxpayers deserve more for their dollar.”
He believes residents in the county are also behind this, as current councillors ran on these principles during the election and won — but said he’s not sure if more staff members will be looking at other employment options.
“What we’re asking is the service be not considered to be a job, but rather an opportunity to serve family, friends and neighbours,” he said. “I don’t think they have to worry about their paycheques.”
Massey added that an organizational report commissioned by the previous council — which will be made public in the coming weeks — shows that staff morale had been an issue but seems to be improving.
“We believe that some of the changes we’ve incorporated have improved that morale,” he said. “Whenever there’s change, or the opportunity to change, some people resist it and some people welcome it.”
